US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Persian Gulf region to “make sure that their views are taken into account” as the US moves forward on negotiations with Iran, he said upon arriving in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
“We’re really here to hear from them more than we are to talk,” Rubio told reporters on the tarmac in Abu Dhabi, saying he wants to hear about economic and security concerns.
“We want to hear their thoughts, especially in the aftermath of this weekend in Switzerland, and make sure that their views are taken into account in every decision that we make, because they’re our partners,” Rubio said as he kicked off his trip to the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. He will also meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during the three-day trip.
Rubio said that all of the allies “are on board for peace,” but he added, “Obviously, it all depends on the details of that peace as we work through.”
“It’s a work in progress,” he said. “I think good groundwork was laid over the last 72 hours, but a lot of work remains to be done.”
The top US diplomat said he would not be asking allies for monetary help with a discussed $300 billion Iran reconstruction fund, calling that “far down the road.”
He said concerns about Iran’s missile program and proxy support — a key issue for the region — will “most certainly come up in these conversations.”
Rubio claimed that the issue, which is not spelled out in the memorandum of understanding announced by the US and Iran last week, is addressed by it because a complete “end of hostilities in the entire region” is not possible “as long as Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones from Iraq and are participating in terrorism, like Hamas did, and like Hezbollah did.”
“It is an issue that will be gotten to at the appropriate time in these negotiations,” he said.
